Pocket dispenser



Sept. 24, 1946.` w. c. MQELLER l 2,408,150

POCKET DISPENSER 'Filed sept. 2s, 1944v v I "J'vvv Patented Sept. 24, 1946 POCKET DISPENSER William C. Moeller, Kansas City, Mo. Application September 23, 1944, Serial No. 555,503

(cl. 20e-42) Y Y 1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to dispensersA for small articles, such as tablets or analogous units, and has for its primary aim to provide a pocket dispenser that will hold a number of articles where they may be quickly available one at a time by a manipulation of the parts of the dispenser that are made in accordance with the present invention.

Further objects of this invention are to provide a pocket dispenser for small articles that may be molded or otherwise formed of plastic or suitable light substance; that may include a pair of mating sections, pivotally interconnected for relative rotation; that has a series of stalls for the individual articles being dispensed; and which has a discharge port formed vin one of the aforesaid sections, for successively registering with the stalls as the sections of the Vdispenser are v relatively rotated.

Other objects of the invention include the specic details of construction that are clarilied in the accompanying drawing and that will be detailed during the following speciiication, alluding to said drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective stretch-out view of a pocket dispenser made in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the dispenser, parts being broken away for olearness of illustration.

Fig. 3is a sectional View through the dispenser taken on line III-III of Fig. 2. Y

Fig. 4 is a top plan View of a pocket dispenser made to embody a modified form of the invention; and

Fig. v5 is a sectional view taken on line V-V of Fig. 4.

The necessity of carrying small numbersy of tablets or the like for use one at a time, Yhas grown appreciably since the advent of vitamin tablets, salt tablets for industrial plant use, and the production of other products in tabloid form. The tablets should be preserved not only against crushing, butto maintain their outer Vsurfaces clean andy sanitary. o

The pocket dispenser embodying the broad concepts of this invention, is not only usable as a holder forrfeedingy thetablets one at a time, but as a carton within which the articles may be packaged for display and sale.

A pocket dispenser made in accordance with the preferred form of the invention is Aclearly illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive. It is made of clear plastic, or other suitable substance, and may be molded or otherwise created to present a pair of mating sections I and I2 pivotally interconnected as at I4 on the axis of the discshaped body, created by bringing together sections I0 and'IZ.

Section I0 has a pocket I6 created at the axis rthereof and it is through the bottom of this pocket I6 that opening I8 is formed to receive hollow rivet I4 that forms the pivotal connection.

Pocket I6 has an annular side wall within which discharge port 20' is formed. The edge of section I0 is in the form of a flange 22, scalloped as at 24. This flange 22 cooperates with a flange or similar structure 26 at the annular edge of section I2.

In the instance illustrated, flange 22 overlaps the edge of section I2 and portion 26 of section I2 may also be scalloped to form a grip when sections I0 and I2 are relatively rotated about pivot I4.

A series of stalls -28 is provided between sections I0 and I2.- In the form shown, stalls 28 are created Within section I2 and arranged in a circular path concentric to rivet I4. When section I0 is in place, the upper parts of these stalls 28 are closed and the inturned portionk of section I0 forming pocket I6 closes the ends of stalls 28 to prevent accidental escape of articles 30, which in this instance are tablets of conventional type.

When port 2i] is in register with one of stalls v28, the article 30 may move radially into pocket I6 where it becomes available to the user.

A plug 32 fits into pocket I 6 when the dispenser is used as a package in the sale of the commodity. 'I'his plug 32 is substantially nat on its top and cooperates with sections I0 and I2 to produce a relatively thin disc-shaped body having substantially flat sides.

The form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 is not greatly unlike the form just described.

Sections and 52 are of a mating character and stalls 54 areprovided in section 50. A rivet 56v atv the axis of the disc-shaped sections 50 and 52 permits `relative movement about the axis of rivet 56.`

Discharge port 58 in section 52 of this form of the invention, is in the wall of section 52 outside of pocket B0. As the sections are relatively rotated port 58 successively registers with stalls 54y in section 50 to allow the escape of articles 62. A protecting shield 64 of tape or other suitable substance, closes port 58 when th'e dispenser is used as a carton in the sale of the articles.

Obviously, pocket dispensers having physical characteristics different from those illustrated and described may be made without departing pocket'l formed by one of the sections at the axis thereof; a discharge port in the said one section in communication with the pocket, said discharge port being disposed to successively register with the stalls as the sections are relatively rotated whereby the articles are fed. one at a time into the pocket from the stalls; and scallops formed on the edge of each disc-shaped section, said scallops being aligned when oneof the stalls is 10 in register with the saidj discharge' port.

WILLIAM C. MOELLER. 

